I had a chance to be there. Where the culture of my people began. Where I have roots. Where my history is... I've always wondered what the history of Mexico was and is. Since I grew up in America, all I've ever known is the history here. But being Mexican and having that heritage, I've never really had a chance to see where I came from. Until this year. I saw that history... and it made my spirit cringe.
We were in the Federal District of Mexico City. Right there in the heart of it all. One of the largest catholic cathedrals I had ever seen was right there along with the presidential palace. But almost in between those was the site of old ruins in what was once Tenochtitlan. (prounounced: Tenosh-tit-lan. more or less). Tenochtitlan was founded by a wandering tribe of Mexica , or Aztecs, that basically built the city on a swamp. They built it because the sign the gods gave them of an eagle perched on a cactus eating a snake. Which is todays Mexican flag. The Aztecs were an advanced civilization and even Hernan Cortez noted his impressions in his letters back to Spain. The Aztecs believed that they needed to have human heart sacrifices in order to see the sun rise every day. When they went to war with other tribes they made sure they kept as many prisoners alive so they would have bodies for the ritual. I was right in the very place that these rituals took place and I felt a pain in my soul because this is something that my ancestors where a part of. It's true that they were one of the most advanced civilizations to date... They had a great trade and agricultural system and had polytheistic practices.
As I walked through the museum of the Templo Mayor ( The Major Temple) in Mexico City, I was saddened to know that my roots came from these type of practices... That my heritage came from the daily spilling of blood just to satisfy a piece of rock. A rock that now sits in a museum. And then enter the Spanish. The Spanish came and completely obliterated this civilization. And when they moved on...they left disease. All this I learned in a day but I still continue to research this culture. I think its good for one to know where they come from. We plan to make future visits to Mexico. See other places that I've only seen in dreams. Its funny... because when I was a toddler, my parents took me to Mexico. And I DO remember some of it. But it has been mostly in my dreams... I often ask my parents to confirm my memories.
So. these are the first couple of posts. I will continue to post about my travels so long as there are readers there to read them. I also want to post travels I have taken with other friends. So look out for those. I may even post about past trips. Such as a pretty sweet canoe trip I took in the late summer last year. Pictures will also be posted. Keep checking back.
[+] greg
I had a chance to be there. Where the culture of my people began. Where I have roots. Where my history is... I've always wondered what the history of Mexico was and is. Since I grew up in America, all I've ever known is the history here. But being Mexican and having that heritage, I've never really had a chance to see where I came from. Until this year. I saw that history... and it made my spirit cringe.
We were in the Federal District of Mexico City. Right there in the heart of it all. One of the largest catholic cathedrals I had ever seen was right there along with the presidential palace. But almost in between those was the site of old ruins in what was once Tenochtitlan. (prounounced: Tenosh-tit-lan. more or less). Tenochtitlan was founded by a wandering tribe of Mexica , or Aztecs, that basically built the city on a swamp. They built it because the sign the gods gave them of an eagle perched on a cactus eating a snake. Which is todays Mexican flag. The Aztecs were an advanced civilization and even Hernan Cortez noted his impressions in his letters back to Spain. The Aztecs believed that they needed to have human heart sacrifices in order to see the sun rise every day. When they went to war with other tribes they made sure they kept as many prisoners alive so they would have bodies for the ritual. I was right in the very place that these rituals took place and I felt a pain in my soul because this is something that my ancestors where a part of. It's true that they were one of the most advanced civilizations to date... They had a great trade and agricultural system and had polytheistic practices.
As I walked through the museum of the Templo Mayor ( The Major Temple) in Mexico City, I was saddened to know that my roots came from these type of practices... That my heritage came from the daily spilling of blood just to satisfy a piece of rock. A rock that now sits in a museum. And then enter the Spanish. The Spanish came and completely obliterated this civilization. And when they moved on...they left disease. All this I learned in a day but I still continue to research this culture. I think its good for one to know where they come from. We plan to make future visits to Mexico. See other places that I've only seen in dreams. Its funny... because when I was a toddler, my parents took me to Mexico. And I DO remember some of it. But it has been mostly in my dreams... I often ask my parents to confirm my memories.
So. these are the first couple of posts. I will continue to post about my travels so long as there are readers there to read them. I also want to post travels I have taken with other friends. So look out for those. I may even post about past trips. Such as a pretty sweet canoe trip I took in the late summer last year. Pictures will also be posted. Keep checking back.
[+] greg
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